Peanut Butter Free Program

[Sunchimes]

I was wondering how many of you use peanut butter in your program? I thought that not allowing PB was the standard for schools now. I know that a lot of places won't allow kids to bring it to school. But, all of the recommended menus I see include it.

I have to have a PB free house because one of my dcks is highly allergic (oh, the sacrifices I make for the kids--I love PB!). I can't even serve anything that says it was made in a factory that processed peanut butter.

Just curious how widespread this is among dc.

[Yhadi86]

I have never worked at a center that allowed peanut butter or any other kind of nut. And, yes, it is a huge sacrifice because I love peanut butter. When I open my home based center, I will not allow it. I think that is going to be very attractive to parents who have children with allergies (even if its not to nuts) and with special dietary restrictions. I believe it shows that you are conscious of what you're giving the kids and sensitive to an individual's needs.

Peanut butter is a great source of protein, and kids love it. That's why its in so many recipes. But you and the kids can easily get protein from beans and meat and other foods. Soy based peanut butter is also a great alternative. Try sun butter. Ive never tasted it, but the kids that have brought sun butter and jelly sandwiches to school tell me its good. Im also not sure if soy based nuts are a good source of soy protein, but im pretty sure the are

[Unregistered]

I allow peanut butter in my home, use it regularly and will not go peanut free (or any other food) for a daycare child.

[AnneCordelia]

I have a home-based daycare. I also use peanut butter regularly. It is inexpensive, good protien, good nutrition so I can't justify cutting it out of our lives. The way I see it, if I am going nut-free then it has to be 100% all the time. I can't commit to that. It's too good a nutrition source for my own 4 kids, and my other daycare children for me to consider it for potentially just one child. I am not a nut-free facility.

I am conscientous of what I serve though. I have a vegetarian daycare child here and will make accomodations for him, but his meat-less diet doesn't prevent me from keeping meat in my home, kwim?

[Sunchimes]

I think if I had a lot of kids, I might have to rethink it. But, I just have 3, and they aren't really old enough for PB sandwiches yet. I just wondered how widespread it was.

Thanks!

[caring4kidsinSD]

I have 1 boy allergic to PB so I just don't serve PB sandwiches and snacks on the days when he is here(he is only here 1 day a week - phew) But we have it other days.

[1vs7omg]

I don't have any kids yet but my daycare is peanut free. I have it in my policy, website and business cards. My grandson whom I have custody of is highly allergic to peanuts so therefore no one can bring any foods into the house.

A word of caution; his doctor told me that legumes are a cousin to nuts, so beware. He said some get a reaction to it and some don't. I haven't given any legumes to my 3yr old grandson because I really don't want to use the epi pen!

[WImom]

I have one peanut allergy and one tree nut allergy here. I use Soynut butter for everything that calls for peanut butter. The kids love that stuff. It's a little pricey at $4.00 a jar but I love that we can still make peanut butter food items.

[Sunchimes]

I'll look for soynut butter. We live in a pretty small town and it doesn't sound like something WM would carry. But, it would be a good substitute.

1vs7omg (love that name), thanks for the info on legumes. She came to me allergic to peanuts (she's already been to the ER once since I've had her--not at my house, but from home), milk, and eggs. She is on soy milk, but she seems to have outgrown the egg problems in their tests. I've fed her black beans, black eyed peas, and pintos with no problems, so I guess she's one of the lucky ones.

[Meyou]

We use soynut butter for my kids for school but we're a peanut home. I make many, many allowances for DCK's and can accommodate many things but going peanut free would affect my home. We love our PB and nuts. I really feel that if you are a peanut free DC you would have to be a peanut free home and I'm not prepared to do that.

[laundrymom]

We serve Pb here as well. And my own kids and I love it, my dh loves it. If I were to cut it out it would impact my families life and I'm not cutting it.

[Meyou]

We serve Pb here as well. And my own kids and I love it, my dh loves it. If I were to cut it out it would impact my families life and I'm not cutting it.

I'm pretty sure I would starve. :: I eat alot of PB and J on the fly while working.

[Crazy8]

I allow peanut butter in my home, use it regularly and will not go peanut free (or any other food) for a daycare child.

same here.

Our schools also all allow PB... they just are not allowed to have it in the classrooms if there is a child in that room with an allergy and the cafeterias have "peanut free" tables.

[SilverSabre25]

You could tree sunflower seed butter, or "sunbutter" as it is often called. Low allergen and pretty good once you get used to the taste!

[Blackcat31]

I know nothing about peanut allegies but I am curious, are people who are allergic to peanuts allergic to ALL nuts or just peanuts?

I switched to using almond butter not too long ago and it is great, I think it might be healthier than peanut butter but am not positive.